18th century London in all its squalid splendor.

When Caro's friend Lucia is brutally murdered and the Bow Street magistrates show no interest in a full investigation, Caro enlists the help of former Deptford magistrate Perry Child, lately employed as a thief taker.

They face hostility, blackmail, threats and violence in equal measure and must decide is bringing a murderer to justice worth risking everything for.

The more they piece together the clues the more they realise just how high up the corruption goes.
Just why are the magistrates so keen to force a confession out of an innocent man, who are they protecting.

A riveting insight in to the societal excesses of the Beau Monde and the debauchery that was prevalent at that time.

The story took many twists and turns some of them quite surprising, trust nobody as nothing and no one is quite as they seem.

I don’t know what it is about this book: the plot and the mystery is so clever, so complex and so brilliant that it should make this a 5 star read - I really enjoyed it - but there was just nothing there that made me want to choose sitting down to read over anything else I could be doing (baking bread, drawing - I’ve picked up my oil pastels again) but I can’t put my finger on what.

London, 1782. Caro Corsham stumbles across the just murdered body of an acquaintance in the bowers of Vauxhall pleasure gardens and her insistence that her murder should not be brushed under the rug leads her down a twisted path full of brothels and prostitutes, gentleman collectors of antiquities, cover ups in the Home Office, the Royal family, the world of fine art and sinister secret societies along with Peregrine Child, the borderline alcoholic former magistrate turned thief taker whom she employs to find Lucy’s killer.

Honestly, I’m still thinking about how clever it all was, how every strand was woven together at the end - usually I’ve got books like this sussed out by the time I’m about 75% of the way through, but this time e very twist and turn came as a massive surprise. Honestly, perhaps I was just not feeling this sort of book at the moment? If you enjoy any of what I’ve described above, I know you’re going to enjoy Daughters of Night. If you’ve recently enjoyed The Shape of Darkness or The Confessions of Frannie Langton, this one is for you!

”It’s how history remembers the lady, she thought. By our death or our dishonour or our sins.”

When Caroline ‘Caro’ Corsham unexpectedly finds herself cradling a dying friend who, unbeknownst to Caro, is actually a prostitute who’s been murdered, she’s desperate to get to the bottom of who murdered the woman and why. She consults renown thief-taker Peregrine Child to find the answers to solving Lucy’s murder. The duo unwittingly find themselves at the heart of a deeper and darker plot than they could have imagined, with foes on all sides, ready to silence them before they uncover the truth.

*applause, applause, applause!*

*standing ovation*

Daughters of Night is one of the best - if not THEE best - historical mystery I’ve ever read. It is most definitely in my top reads of 2021.

Rich, descriptive, intricately plotted with an entertaining cast of characters. I couldn’t get enough of this book. I stole away as much time of my day and night to read this ensnaring and clever mystery.

I wanted to make up a case board with all the players and vital evidence to figure out what was going on. There’s layers of twists and turns, and then even more turns and twists, which are made all the more enthralling by how illustrious the book is. The author clearly appreciates the Georgian time period, because it truly came to life in every traipse to boozers, brothels and black alleys where our clues took us. I really enjoyed seeing the light being shone on the sex industry of the time, and also felt the portrayal of the time period in how people conducted themselves was brilliant.

The characters were well drawn and well used. There was quite a number of them, to be honest. There’s politicians, servicemen, prostitutes, loan sharks, footmen, artists, jewellers... the list goes on. Thankfully, a character list is provided. As for the main characters; Caro is a strong female lead who is not afraid of challenging the expectations and imposed limitations of her gender. She’s determined and caring, so is easily likeable.

Child, the hired PI, genuinely reads like a weary middle aged man but is nonetheless methodical and desperate enough to get to the bottom of the mystery.

Then there’s Pamela, a 15 year old maiden who I’m certain will evoke a variety of emotions with readers. One minute I liked her, but page by page, she began to make me feel uneasy, firstly with her naivety and then by her egocentric mentality. I wanted to grab and shake her - I’m pretty sure I sneered at one point.

Additionally, with Caro constrained to the misogynistic chains of the time period, her consultation and employ of Child reminded me of 2020’s Sara and Arent from The Devil and the Dark Water. If you liked that sleuthing mystery, then you’re sure to love this.

My advice to those who wish to read it, is be prepared for an information heavy read. There’s so much going on, and it wouldn’t surprise me if other bookworms felt it was difficult to engage with (my mum felt this way!) - my only advice would be to read this fully alert or give the audiobook a go. The narrator, Lucy Scott, was fantastic, and I hope any future stories in this world will be narrated by her.

This was absolutely brilliant and I cannot recommend it enough if you love eloquently written and well crafted mysteries, especially historical mysteries. Certain characters at certain points infuriated me so much I was screaming into a pillow and sweating with rage, and then my eyebrows were beyond my hairline from an explosive twist. I can’t wait to see what Laura Shepherd-Robinson writes next.


Thank you kindly to Mantle, Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

Do you ever finish a book then just sit & say to yourself "yes"? Yes to all of it - the characters, the research, the story, the ending.

I loved Daughters Of Night, it's that simple. It's main characters are brilliantly written, I'd love to be Caro's friend, head back in time & take tea with this firecracker of a woman. If I ever needed anyone in my corner I'd want Peregrine Child, he's rough & ready, not a classic hero but thoroughly charming in his own unpolished way.

This story is multifaceted, but never muddled, each side is an interesting tale on it's own but when woven together with such skill it is a delight to get lost in.

The research that has gone in to his book is so impressive, @laurashepherdrobinson recreates a world of wealth, scandal and secrets on one hand and a dark, seedy and murderous one on the other. The little details make this story - the Puss & Mew, the 'ring-game', mouse fur eyebrows & pineapples. If anyone were to check out my search history they'd probably be quite disturbed by the old photos of syphilis suffers, Laura painted such a vivid picture I just had to see for myself.

If you like historical fiction then this book is a must. Some of the characters were in Laura's first book Blood & Sugar (another great read) but this works as standalone & for me this is the highlight of the pair, probably due to the winning, unlikely, duo of Caro & Child.

I didn't read Blood & Sugar but I will read it soon as I know that some of the characters are in it as well and I loved this novel so much.
It's a brilliant, enthralling and fascinating mix of historical fiction and mystery that kept me hooked and I couldn't put it down.
It's well researched and the historical background is vivid and I loved to read the descriptions and meet the characters from various classes.
The plot is tightly knitted, full of twists and turns, and I loved every moment as the author is an excellent storyteller.
Excellent character development, great historical building and style of writing.
It's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Laura Shepherd Robinson’s debut novel, Blood & Sugar made my list of favourite books of 2019, so I was excited to be given an advanced copy of Daughters of Night to read by Pan Macmillan. Set during the same period of her previous book, the late eighteenth century, this book sees the return of Caro Corsham, who is feisty, intelligent and an independent woman. When she comes across the body of an aquaintance, murdered in the pleasure gardens of Vauxhall, a woman she believed to be an Italian Countess, Caro is obviously shocked to learn that she is in fact a prostitute. Lucy Loveless, was one of London’s most sought after women, a member of the Whores Club, but as such her murder is not seemed to be important. Caro’s sense of justice drives her to find out just what happened to Lucy, and with thieftaker Pereguin Child they delve into the murky world of Georgian society, with secret clubs, hedonistic parties and prostitutes.

You don’t need to have read Laura Shepherd-Robinson’s previous book to enjoy the Daughters of Night, Caro was a minor character as the wife of one the main characters, Captain Henry Corsham, who in this book is away in France on Government business. Caro is a character who knows her own mind, doesn’t necessarily adhere to social of gender conventions, doing what she wants and what she thinks is right, including investigating the death of a prostitute and paying for her funeral. I loved Caro as a character, a woman who is passionate, intelligent, determined and not frightened to take on the establishment when required. She also has a secret of her own, one that could destroy her family and marriage. She is dogged in her approach even when it could destroy friendships or family members.

As with her previous book, Laua Shepherd-Robinson’s understanding of Georgian history is remarkable. She is able to capture the essence and atmosphere of this period, a time of debauchery, excess, beauty and enjoyment. The plotline highlights the disparity in the classes, the rich and the poor, those with power and those without. There are even different classes of prostitutes, from the high class women of the Whore Club, like Lucy who are wined and dined by rich aristocrats and the wealthy men, taken to parties and kept in luxury. At the opposite end of this scale are the girls working on the streets, putting themselves in danger, living in teriible conditions. Laura Shepherd-Robinsom captures the beautiful satins and brocades of the clothes, the beautiful interiors of the houses, the masked balls and the periods obsession with classical mythology, an example being the Pryapus Club. There is aslo the more sordid side of Georgian society, the pleasure gardens of Vauxhall, beautiful but also a place for secret assignations, the selling of virgins to the highest bidder and the prevelence of syphlis, that destroys not only the body but also the mind.

Daughters of Night is another stunning book from Laura Shepherd -Robinson. Full of historical detail, with place and characters so vividly captured on the page this is a book to be savoured and to loose yourself in. The heady mix of Georgian high society mixed with the darker side of London, the sex trade and the violence of the streets, makes for a truely enlightening read. Add to this the tension and sinister undercurrent of the murder of a young woman, and an investigation that threatens Caro’s life this is a truely brilliant and accomplished read. I hope the next book is in the writing, because I can’t wait to read it. Simply stunning!!

This was a great read, very long but incorporated many smaller stories within the main thriller. Having said that it was a long story I have to add that it was so well written that it kept the pages turning as there was always something new to try to resolve and think about. Laura has obviously done a lot of research into Georgian society and described the characters, the scenery and even the smells that surrounded London in this period extremely well. The story twists and turns throughout and trying to resolve who did what, when, why and how was simply not possible.
At times I felt that the heroine Caro was a little too strong and compulsive a character but I liked her never the less. The book shows clearly the differences between the class structure as well as the gender differences which was well put.

This is a fantastically intricate murder mystery, set in London in the 1780's, with a colourful cast of characters. I'm not great when there's loads of names to remember, but the author introduced us to everyone at a steady pace and I never had any problem. The descriptions of the setting were wonderful, even down to the horrendous smells! There are stories within stories, all twisted together, which our MC, Caro and her helper, Mr Child work their hardest to unravel. Wonderful story-telling which had me completely engrossed. I'm going back to read Blood and Sugar now!

A brilliantly twisting plot full of surprise and intrigue. This thrilling mystery is so complex and gripping it's impossible to put down.

When Caro finds her friend Lucy brutally murdered in a secluded bower, she sets out to find her murderer and ensure they are brought to justice, hiring thief-taker, Mr Child, to help. But Lucy is not the woman Caro thought she was, and unravelling the mystery of Lucy's final months leads Caro into a dark and dangerous world. Caro will have to decide if bringing Lucy's killer to justice is worth risking everything she loves.

Shepherd-Robinson brings Georgian London to life in vivid detail. But Daughters of Night doesn't remain in the glittering ballrooms found in an Austen novel or Bridgerton. This is the London of the people - the poor as well as the privileged - and it is fascinating to read about. War with America, illegal gin, a King failing in his duty to his country, Daughters of Night is packed with historical details (and amusing references to rather quaint sounding villages now part of London's large urban sprawl).

It was a joy to pick this up and lose myself in Caro and Child's world. The characters are painted as vividly as the London they inhabit. Everyone had secret motives, their own agency and desires. In a story filled with selfish actions and characters who readily sacrifice others to protect their own interests, Caro really shines as someone who will do whatever it takes for justice. She is one of the best protagonists I have come across and she will stay with me far beyond the pages of this book.

A very satisfying Georgian whodunnit, the book races along at speed, rushing through a beautifully realised view of Regency London, it perils and dangers for women in particular.

Caro Corsham is a sympathetic heroine, and her thief-taker Childs is another credible character - as a team they try to get to some unsavoury truths and risk great danger to do so.

Loved the depiction of the prostitutes' world and the nastiness of the upper-class men they depended on for their livelihoods and their lives, and glad to reach a satisfying conclusion.

I loved Blood & Sugar, Shepherd-Robinson's first book, but think this is even better. Thoroughly enjoyed this historical crime thriller set in Georgian London, which she brings so vividly to life. Great characters, cracks along at pace and must have taken immense research. Will be queuing up for her next book, and now have a stack of other books to read as recommended by her in the notes.

Brilliant, brilliant story telling right here! Laura Shepherd-Robinson weaves such a gripping story, full of intrigue and lies and deceit. A secret society, a painter with a generous following, gorgeous girls selling their bodies with a promise of happiness until everything takes a wrong turn. Caroline is a very well built character. Such a strong, courageous women, determined to make the most of her circumstances, pushing the boundaries of what a women can and cannot do in Georgian England.

I really loved everything about this book: the writing, the story, the strong female characters, how women issues(in the historical context) were explored and laid bare without the whining that often accompanies such novels, portraying sex work and those who choose it/end up tangled in it in such a rich, nuanced way. And last but not least the constant twists that kept me guessing until the end.

A truly beautiful and captivating read, I was drawn in from the very first page and I didn’t want it to end.

✨BOOK REVIEW: DAUGHTERS OF NIGHT✨
Written by @laurashepherdrobinson
Published by @panmacmillan

Firstly, HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!

Secondly, WOW. This historical fiction-murder mystery hybrid is stunning. The *work* that must’ve gone in to researching, planning and writing this!?!

Set in Georgian England, Caro is the unhappily married wife of Captain Corsham, and one night she finds herself witness to the death of one of her friends; a woman she knew in life as Lady Lucia, but will discover much more about after her passing.

As a woman of privileged social position, she is thrown into a world where the lines between the powerful and the powerless, the rich and the poor and the right and the wrong have never been so stark, or more blurred.

This is such a layered piece of writing, with a deeply engaging and complex plot, bold and brilliant characterisation and many twists, turns and moral injustices that reach the reader’s heart as well as their imagination.

I cannot recommend this highly enough. Take the time to travel back to 1782 and step into Caro’s world: you won’t regret it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I absolutely adored Laura's debut Blood and Sugar and was thrilled to read an advance copy of this her second novel. Before reading her debut I was not a fan of historical fiction but Blood and Sugar was definitely one of my stand out reads of 2019. In Daughters of the Night the year is 1782 and Caro Corsham discovers the body of a woman in the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. When it is discovered that the victim was a prostitute , the law is not interested and so Caro launches her own investigation with the help of thief taker Peregrine Child. Although there are returning characters from Blood and Sugar this can definitely be read as a standalone but I would recommend reading the former anyway.
This book is a shining example of the best of historical fiction, the research, the detail, the atmosphere of 1780s London is all outstanding. Shepherd- Robinson vividly describes a London where women are merely commodities. I am a big fan of crime fiction and what I love about this novel and it's predecessor is that it is as gripping and compelling as any other in the crime fiction genre.
I would highly recommend this novel, I will buying it in hardback and it's sure to be one of my reads of the year
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC.

Daughters Of The Night

2 and a half stars.

I have been looking at other reviews and hate to be the odd one out...but I honestly found this book quite hard going.

Firstly it is beautifully researched and thats why I have given 3 stars...the amount if research the author puts in is phenomenal and really shines through...the picture it paints of victorian London is thorough and vivid and I definitely applaud that.

However, there was just too much going on....I thought it needed to be streamlined a lot and that it needed to be probably be half the length it was...which would have made it much tighter...I found the revelations really drawn out and that to be quite frustrating.

Also..what is a bower? I'm imagining its like a beach hut but in a garden? I have looked everywhere for reference/photos but cannot find anything at all. I was having trouble picturing that...which is obviously pivotal to the beginning of the story.
The information about Vauxhall Gardens was fascinating though.

It is an interesting book and I am glad to have read it...but it was just too stodgy for me and I found Caro a difficult narrator and hated the ending.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks to Pan Macmillan/Mantle for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Daughters of Night’ by Laura Shepherd-Robinson in exchange for an honest review.

This historical mystery is set in 1782. Its main character is Caroline (Caro) Corsham, wife of Captain Henry (Harry) Corsham, who was the protagonist of Shepherd-Robinson’s 2019 debut, ‘Blood & Sugar’. Caro was a supporting character in it though it was clear that the marriage was rocky with Caro constantly courting scandal. Now in 1782, Harry has been in France on a diplomatic mission for the last few months, leaving Caro to her own devices.

At the opening of ‘Daughters of Night’ Caro is on her way to an assignation at the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. In the bowers she discovers a well-dressed woman, who has been mortally wounded. The Bow Street constables are initially swift to investigate - until they discover that the woman is a highly paid lady of the night. Yet Caro wants justice for her and so hires thief-taker, Peregrine Child to discover the identity of the murderer. In the course of the investigation other mysteries come to light. Yet the situation quickly becomes dangerous.

I won’t say more in order to avoid spoilers and what follows is an intricately woven murder mystery that also explores the various roles of women in Georgian society.

I wasn’t a great fan of Caro in ‘Blood & Sugar’ given her selfish behaviour and treatment of Harry. Yet over the course of this novel I came to appreciate her and yes love her for despite her flaws she emerged as a complex, compelling woman.

Clearly a great deal of research has gone into the creation of both novels and they serve as companions to one another. The historical details are very impressive with the result that I felt completely immersed in the narrative.

I appreciated the ‘In Attendance’ list that was placed before the main text. The Historical Note was also very informative, providing background on the period including the real life members of Georgian society that served as inspiration for her characters.

On a side note, the designers at Mantle Books have created an exquisitely presented hardback edition.

Very highly recommended.

I really enjoyed Laura Shepherd Robinson’s debut novel Blood & Sugar so was really keen to read her new one, Daughters of Night. It’s a sort of sequel in that it features some of the peripheral characters from the first book, but you certainly don’t need to have read Blood & Sugar to enjoy it.

As the title suggests, the book focuses on the women who make a living pandering to the pleasures of men by working in the sex trade of Georgian London. When Lucy Loveless is brutally murdered in Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens society heiress Caroline (Caro) Corsham, the wife of one of the main characters in Blood & Sugar, hears her dying words and vows to find her killer. Caro was under the mistaken impression that Lucy was a fellow society noblewoman and is shocked to learn of her friend’s true profession. She enlists the services of ‘thief taker’ (a sort of private detective) Peregrine Child, to track down Lucy’s murderer. Child is a colourful, disreputable but very engaging character, gloriously described as “an unprepossessing creature in his ill-fitting coat and ridiculous wig, his nose bulging with so many veins it resembled a damson.”

Georgian London is brought to live in all its bawdy, filthy and smelly glory and every character, be they a prostitute, pickpocket, lord or lady, is equally colourful and damaged. The murder mystery plotline is fast paced with lots of twists and turns to keep Perry and Caro on their feet and second guessing everyone they meet.

I really enjoyed this entertaining and intelligent historical romp. The 'society lady / rough and ready crime solving partner' vibe reminded me of the Crowther & Westerman series by Imogen Robertson which I loved a few years ago but which seems to have petered out, so hopefully there will be more 'Corsham and Child' stories to take their place.

I would have never considered myself a lover of historical crime fiction but here I am, having read two of Laura Shepherd Robinson's books now and I think it's slowly becoming one of my favourite genres.

And that is well and truly a result of LSR's descriptive narratives and how she slowly builds tension, drama and suspense throughout her books.

'Daughters of Night' isn't really a sequel as such to her first book 'Blood and Sugar' but it does include similar characters, the main one being Caroline Corsham.

After witnessing the brutal murder of a local/well-known sex worker whilst in the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, she sets herself on a mission to hunt down the murderer and get justice. Yet along the way, she finds herself getting mixed up in all sorts of deception and deciet and finds herself in very treacherous water...

This books is THICC but one that I wouldn't have had it any other way. Each chapter gives just enough for you to keep you wanting more. I think my guess on 'who done it' changed about 15 times haha.

I am really enjoying this genre and I think if you already love historical fiction, I think you should try historical crime fiction. I definitely don't think you'll be disappointed with 'Daughters of Night' anyway!

This book was so enjoyable that I couldn’t put it down. The style of writing and everything about it reminds me of one of my favourite classical authors Wilkie Collins. I know that this book is set in the 1780’s and Wilkie Collins books are set in his life time in the 1800’s. There were so many twists and turns to this book I couldn’t workout who the murderer was. Which is really good as with so many books I can work out who the murderer is way before I get to the end of the book. Anyone who likes to read historical crime, mystery fiction they you must read this book.

In 1782 London’s Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens were a place for the rich, a place for their hedonistic pleasures. This is where Caro Corsham finds herself one evening. She has been waiting for her politician husband to return from France as he’s been away for weeks. While she is there she is greeted by some of her husbands friends and acquaintances.

Caro wanders off the main track to a more secluded part of the pleasure gardens. Where she stumbles across a noblewoman who has been mortally wounded. The woman’s last words are “He Knows”. It’s obvious to Caro that she herself has just missed the killer.

The police are quick in taking action to find the killer until they find out that the victim isn’t a noblewoman at all. She is Lucy Loveless a high class lady of the night.

When Caro finds out that the investigation has been dropped, she sets out to find the killer herself as she can’t bare the injustice of the case being dropped. Caro ends up hiring Peregrine Child a thief taker to help with her own investigation. Not realising that the investigation will lead Caro and Child into the unsavoury world of London’s society.

Along the way Caro finds out that ex-clients along with London’s society aren’t happy with her investigating the murder. They try to discredit her, when that doesn’t work they start to harass and threaten her safety.

Word gets around to Caro’s brother who demands that she stop what she’s doing at once. As she is bringing down the families and her husbands reputation. He even goes as far as to cutting off her funds in an attempt to stop her, but in-spite of her lack of funds Caro doesn’t stop. She has to make wright the injustice of what happened to Lucy Loveless.

Will Caro and Child come out of their investigation unscathed and victorious or will they both pay the price for sticking their noses in where they aren’t wanted?

I have loved this book so much that I have just purchased a Signed copy from Waterstones.